The Way of Flowers

For three days, the concourse of Johor Baru City Square was decorated with a showcase of artistic flower arrangements for the recent Annual Exhibition of Ikebana International Johor Baru (IIJB) chapter 235 themed, “The Way of Flowers.”

A team of guest demonstrators from Ikebana International
Club Taiwan, creating an arrangement together

From April 8 to 10, visitors to JB City Square had the pleasure of enjoying the art of Japanese flower arrangements presented in the Ikebana schools of Ohara, Sogetsu, Ikenobo and Shofu-Ryu.

The exhibition, officially opened on April 9, was graced by Counsellor from the Embassy of Japan in Kuala Lumpur, Hiroyuki Orikasa, IIJB charter president, Tunku Shahariah Abdul Rahman and distinguished guests from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Hiroyuki commended members of IIJB for their efforts in preserving the art of Ikebana in Malaysia and hoped that “The Way of Flowers” would further advance mutual understanding between the two nations.

A section of the Ikebana exhibits at the event held on
the concourse of Johor Baru City Square

The flower arrangements in the exhibition were presented by members of IIJB and friends from the Ikebana Singapore chapter as well as members from Ikebana International Club Taiwan chapter 105.

Special guests for the event were a team from Taiwan led by Lansing Chen, past president of the Ikebana International Club Taiwan chapter 105 and practitioner of the Ikebana school of Shofu-Ryu.

Chen, the founder of the Shofu-Ryu Ikebana Association in Taiwan, and her team presented an interesting demonstration of Ikebana arrangements in the school of Shofu-Ryu.

This was the first time fans of Ikebana in Johor Baru had the opportunity to appreciate the tradition of Shofu-Ryu Ikebana which advocates expression of Nature’s beauty with hardly any use of artificial material, in vivid colours, creativity and lively illustrations of the modern spirit.

Members of IIJB took the opportunity to celebrate the
birthday of charter president, Tunku Shahariah

“I wish to thank the management of JB City Square, our venue partner, for the use of their concourse to showcase the creative Ikebana arrangements by our members,” said IIJB president, Datin Ong Kid Ching, who was very glad that public visitors at the popular mall had a glimpse of the various disciplines in the art of Ikebana.

IIJB members also took the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of Charter President, Tunku Shahariah Abdul Rahman, with a cake-cutting ceremony before a High Tea reception.

Ikebana International JB membership is open to all who are interested in the Japanese art of flower arrangement.  Visit Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/IkebanaJB for membership enquiries and info about IIJB chapter 235.

A version of this was published in the May 2016 issue of The Iskandarian